Air Purifiers: Are they Enough?

Posted on July 16, 2009 in Consumer Goods, Health & Medicine

In theory, air purifiers sound like a magical idea. Once you buy one, presto! The air in your home will be as clean and fresh as if you were in the mountains. Realistically, an air purifier can only do so much to provide you with air that’s clean. They are a good investment for filtering out and removing impurities from the air, but there are more steps you can take.

Probably the most effective thing to do is to remove the causes of impurities in the air. Allergens love carpet, and vacuum cleaners love to spray them all over the room. Switching to hardwood floors is a good way to cut your dust mites and other impurities in half. And obviously, smoking indoors should be banned as well. Not only is it dangerous, it smells terrible and damages the interior of your house with nicotine stains.

You should also take measures to ensure that your home is well-ventilated. Open windows regularly if you live in a non-urban area and allow the air to vent naturally. Ventilation fans are also a good idea for improving clean air flow, as are ceiling fans (provided they are cleaned of dust).

Please also ensure that you are regularly checking your heating equipment for wear, as an expired heater is a good way to contaminate your home’s air; fast. Testing your home for radon regularly is also a good rule to follow, as is installing a carbon monoxide detector. Keeping harmful chemicals in the garage or an outdoor storage area is also a great way to lessen contaminants in the air.